Effects of the gut microbiota and dietary inulin on age associated inflammation, endurance training adaptations, and voluntary wheel running motivation

ABSTRACT The gut microbiome is a crucial contributor to optimal health. Additionally, many health promoting behaviors have been displayed to concurrently influence its structure and metabolite production. While many studies have identified correlations between microbial composition and health outcomes, relatively few studies have investigated means to leverage these connections to promote optimal health outcomes. In the search to advance knowledge and refine health promoting practices, we completed three preclinical studies in mice. First, we examined the ability of dietary inulin to offset age associated changes in inflammation and gut barrier function through taxonomic and metabolomic alterations to the gut microbiota. Next, we sought to investigate whether an intact microbiota was needed for normal muscular and metabolic adaptations to regular exercise. Finally, we examined the influence of the gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids, and prebiotic fiber on wheel running habit development and associated changes in neurotransmission associated with motivation. We discovered that dietary inulin altered gut microbial composition and metabolite production but did not reduce any of the age associated changes in inflammation or gut physiology. Next, we found that germ free status did, but antibiotic treatment did not reduce endurance training adaptations but did reduce motivation to engage in voluntary wheel running. However, dietary supplementation of key microbial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (acetate, butyrate, propionate), were able to prevent this effect, and butyrogenic dietary inulin was able to increase wheel running above baseline. Together, these findings support the idea that long-term dietary patterns, with particular attention to fiber intake, are important to maintain gut microbial flexibility and optimize the extent of its health promoting properties and should be the subject of future investigation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nutritional Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Hutchinson, Noah Thomas

Contributors dc:contributor

• Woods, Jeffrey A
• Johnson, Rodney W
• Steelman, Andrew J
• Allen, Jacob M

• Microbiome
• Aging
• Inflammation
• Gut
• Inulin
• Exercise
• Reward

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Noah Hutchinson

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121512

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121512